Lubrication means for pumps and the like



Aug. 9, 1927.

o. w. JOHNSON LUBRICATION MEANS FOR PUMPS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 9, 1922 Patented- Aug. 9, 1927.

"UNITED STATES 1,638,160 PATENT. OFFICE.

oscnn w. JonNsoN, or nocxronn, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR rownnn-LovE Pour con- PORATION, or nooxronn, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

LUBRICATION MEANS FOR PUMPS AND THE LIKE.

Application. filed August 9, 1922. Serial No. 580,651.

This invention relates in general to pumps, and has more particular reference to force pumps employed in watebdistribution systems for homes, andalso for gen-.

eral use.

Qne of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved means for lubricating certains arts of a pump of the character described? which improvements are also applicable to any engine employing similar parts requiring lubrication.

My invention also .contemplatesthe provision of means carried bythe piston crosshead or the-equivalent for preventing oil from lodging on the pump piston rod'and working into the water pump, and likewise for preventing admission of water into the crank caseof the driving unit.

Another object is to provide a novel means for determining the level of the oil or lubricant in the crank case or reservoir.

A further objective is to embody'the foregoing features in such simple and practical tion when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in vertical section of a pump embodying my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical cross-sectional views taken substantially on the lines 22 and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. 1;

F ig.'4 is a top view of'the parts shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section showing the action of the cross-head in depositing oil in an oil-collecting groove.

In the present illustration of my invention, the pump housing 6, the crank case ,7, and the base 8 are cast integral; but it should be understood that this is merely a reference in design and is in no way alimitation. In this example the pump piston 9 connected to a piston rod cross-head 11, in

circulated or distributed from the crank case form that they will function satisfactorily crank bearing.

the cylinder 12 in the crank case, is adapted to be reciprocated by means of a pitman or connecting rod designated generally by 13, which in turn is operated by a crank 14, fixed to a crank shaft 15'. The crank shaft carries a fly-wheel 16 which is adapted tobe driven from an electric motor 17 by means of a belt 18. Any means may, however, be employed fordriving the crank shaft.

The crank casing. shown'plainly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is shaped to provide an oil reservoir'which reaches forwardly .and provides a gage well 19 disposed beneath the housing or guideway for the piston cross-head. Said well is ofi'set laterally from the center line of the pump as shown in Fig. 3, and its purpose will appear hereinafter.

My invention contemplates the provision of a spoon-like projection 21 extending from and in the general radial plane of the crank arm 14, the outer end being slightly dished and inclined in angular relation to its plane of rotation so as to scoop a quantity of the oil from the bottom of the crank case when the crank is revolved in a clockwisedirection viewing Fig. 1. Oil scooped up by this extension will be thrown laterally against the side wall 22 and will drain-into a chan nel or ledge 23 formed on said side wall.- Said channel inclined as shown in Fig. 1, drains into an oil groove 24 along the top of the crank bushin to one or more ducts 25 through which t e oil may pass to the The oil working through to the outer end of the hearing will be caught in an annular groove .26 and drained through a duct 27 to the passage 28 formed in the crank casing, from which passage the oil drains into the crank case. Some ofthe oil thrown against the vwall 22 as described, will be caught on the dividing ledge 29 and drain into the passage 31 cored out above the cross-head housing and will flow through a duct 32 to the cylinder 12 for lubricating the cross-head. Some of the oil splashed by the revolving parts will drain into the channel 33 in the top of the pitman or connecting rod 13. This oil will flow through ducts or leads 34 and 35 to the bearing pins on the cross-head and crank respectively. With lubricating s stems heretofore designed, there is a ten ency for oil to collect the stufiing box into the water pump.

is desired to prevent admission of oil in this manner to the pump and to this end 1 have provided a tubular casing 36 about the piston rod at the cross-head end thereof. This It will be apparent that any oil which drains or otherwise accumulates on the periphery supporting part within the casing 7,

of said casing 36 and is carried through the cap .37 will drain off the forward end of said casing 36 by reason of the annular flange or flare at the end thereof. Likewise it will be apparent that any water accumulating on the piston rod will be prevented by the casin 36 from entering the crank casing.

It is, however, one of the purposes of my' invention to prevent as much as possible the accumulation of oil on the casing 36, or on any means on or about the piston rod designed to keep it free from oil, and to prevent escape of oil from the crank case through the opening in the cap 37. To this .end, I have provided an. oil-collecting groove in the cap 37, or any similarly locatled t 1s groove in the preferred embodiment extending circumferentially about said cap. On

' the adjacent end of the cross-head 11, I have provided a plurality, two in the present instance,.-of projections 51 which will overlap the oil-collecting groove when the cross-head is moved to the right to the end of its stroke, as shown in Fig. 5. In this position, the upper projection is in such proximity to the groove that any drops of oil on this projection will come'in contact with the wall of the groove and by contact or capillary attraction with such oil-coated wall will be carried off into the groove and will drain into the bottom of the crank case. This groove 'also collects any oil splashed onto or draining down the inner wall at the forward end of the crank casing which might otherwise drip onto the casing 36.

It will be seen from the foregoing that all the bearings will be self-lubricated so long as there is a supply of oil in the crank case,

I and that my improvements prevent waste and misapplication of the lubricant by way of the piston rod.

Still another feature of my invention resides in the provision of a sight-gage ar ranged in a novel manner in connection with the crank casing for indicating the level of the oil. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this comprises a float 38 disposed in the well 19 andhaving a stem 39 which passes through the upstanding part 41 of a cover plate 42 which overlies the opening 43 through the top of the well or reservoir extension. This cover secured in position by suitable fastening means such as screws 44, serves also to hold a filler cap 45in position. The fillercap, as shown. has separated arms 46 which straddle the upstanding part 41 and are joined at 47 at the rear of said part in a recess 48 in the crank casing body. It Wlll 'be evident that the filler cap 45 may be turned upon its end 47 as a fulcrum to permit filling of the oil reservoir. It will also be noted that upstanding part 41 which constitutes a gage in connection with which the top of the float stem 39' indicates the oil level. By this simple means the owner or operator will be informed at all times as to the extent of the oil supply. Further more, this construction permits quick and easy removal of the cover 42 andof the float for inspection and repair, or for cleaning the interior of the reservoir.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objects prefaced above, and while I have illustrated and described but a single working embodiment,

it should be understood that considerable change might be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In combination, a crank casin and a horizontal cylinder casing, a crossead or the like reciprocable in the cylinder, a crank in the crank casing connected to the crosshead, a bearing for the crank, a dividing ledge above and intermediate the cylinder and crank case, an oil passage between said dividing ledge and the cylinder wall, an inclined ledge on one side wall of the crank casing communicating at its fipper end with said dividing ledge and inclined downwardly and communicating with the crank bearing, and a projection on the crank having an oil-scoop angular with respect to its plane of rotation for scooping oil from the bottom of the crank casing and throwing it upwardly and laterally against said side wall above the inclined ledge and above said dividing ledge, so that this oil will be collected "by said ledges and will gravitate through said passage for lubricating the cylinder and along said inclined ledge for lubricating the crank bearing.

2. In combination, a horizontal cylinder and crank casing, a crank bearing in one side of the casing, a crank in the bearing, a cross-head'or the like reciprocable in the cylinder and ''connected to the crank, a dividiug ledge on the casing above the cylinder for collecting oil and causing it to gravitate in opposite directions therefrom, forwardly for lubricating the. cylinder and rearwardly for lubricating the crank bearing, a ledge on said bearing side of the casing leading from said dividingledge to said bearing, and a projection onthe crank shaped for scooping oil from the bottom of the casing and throwing it upwardly and laterally onto said ledges.

3. The combination with a horizontal means for preventing oil from Within the crank casing accumulating on the piston rod,

comprising'a stationary oil-collecting groovearound the piston rod within said casing, and a projection on the cross-head adapted to be brought into overlapping, oil-depositing relation to said groove.

4. The combination with a horizontal pump and its piston rod, of a crank casing, a crank and a cross-head therein, the latter of which is connected to the piston rod, a removable cap in the crank casing and through which the piston rod passes, said cap being provided within the crank casing with an oil-collecting groove, and a projection on the cross head adaptedto be brought into overlapping oil-depositing relation to said groove.

5. In a lubrication means for pumps and the like, the combination of an oil reservoir reaching laterally from one side of the device in communication with the crank case thereof and having an open top, a cover plate for closing said top and having an upstanding boss portion extending alongside an adjacent wall of the device proper, a float in said oil reservoir having a stem portion extending through an opening provided in said boss whereby the latter provides a guide and gauge for the float stem, a filler opening provided in said cover plate, and a filler cap for closing said opening, said cap having a retaining part reaching around the boss portion of said cover plate and entered through an opening provided between said boss portion and the aforesaid wall of the device proper whereby to ermit movement of the filler cap to and rom operative position while the cap is retained against removal.

OSCAR W. JOHNSON. 

